Philippines mulling 80% target for COVID-19 vaccine coverage

The Philippines is studying the possibility of raising its target for COVID-19 vaccine coverage from 70% to 80% of its 109-million population amid the threat of the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant, a health official said Tuesday.

“With the Delta variant, there is a looming proposal na kailangan taasan pa ‘yung ating (that we need to increase our) vaccination coverage to 80%,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said in an online forum.

Cabotaje said this proposal would mean that those under 18 years old would also be vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, the vaccination program is only for individuals aged 18 and above due to the limited supply.

“Pinag-aaralan pa ‘yan (That is being studied). We are cognizant of the fact that we really need to increase our targets but we will need to look at our vaccine supply and also at the efficacy of the different vaccines that will be considered,” she explained.

“If we will [raise] it to 80%, then we will have to wait for our policies on the vaccination for [those] below 18 years old,” Cabotaje added.

Two members of the Vaccine Expert Panel earlier said the country would likely need to increase its herd immunity target following local transmission of the Delta variant.

Health authorities have made clear, however, that vaccines still offer protection from severe infection, hospitalization, and death even against the Delta variant.

The Philippines has inoculated over 11 million individuals as of August 1.

The country has so far logged 216 cases of the Delta variant.—AOL, GMA News